In episode #24 of The Coop, Anna Sakawsky sits down with David The Good to discuss survival gardening: practical, low-input ways to grow abundant, calorie-dense food that truly feeds your family.
David shares his journey from a childhood gardener to author, YouTuber, permaculture gardener, and nursery owner in South Alabama. He emphasizes that survival gardening isn’t about panic mode or doomsday prepping, but about building the skills and systems so you can reliably produce food when it matters most.
The core principle: suit your garden to your climate. Don’t force plants that don’t belong, look at what traditionally grew in your area, what commercial farms grow successfully, and what thrives with your rainfall, soil, and conditions.
He stresses focusing first on high-calorie staples suited to your region … whether potatoes and corn farther north or plantains, cassava, and yams in warmer climates. David encourages experimentation, saving seeds from what performs best in your backyard, and using simple, durable tools like a good machete, broad hoe, and broadfork.
He also shares his “compost everything” philosophy, including burying animal remains and using weeds and waste to build soil fertility through compost teas and direct application.
Throughout the conversation, David reminds listeners that gardening success comes from observation, adaptation, and steady improvement over time rather than perfection or complicated systems. Whether you’re just starting or scaling up, the goal is resilience: growing food you can count on while enjoying the process.
This episode is packed with grounded wisdom for anyone wanting to move beyond hobby gardening toward real food security and self-reliance.
